Meet the Hosts of the Blackline Originals Podcast: Claire Crehan & Andy Bailey
Who Hosts the Blackline Originals Podcast?
Blackline Originals: Why Originality Matters is hosted by Claire Crehan and Andy Bailey, two people who’ve spent their careers doing the work they talk about, not observing it from the side.
From brand and marketing strategy, creative direction and consultancy for established SMEs, scale-ups and global enterprises alike, through to starting up and scaling their own brands, Claire and Andy have experienced why originality is fundamental to enduring success.
Through this podcast series, they share their wins alongside those that didn’t quite land or grow, because that’s where the useful detail about originality actually lives.
Claire Crehan
Who Is Claire Crehan?
Claire Crehan is Managing Director of Blackline Originals and co-host of the Blackline Originals podcast. With fourteen years in branding and marketing, eleven of them at Blackline, working with established SMEs, scale-ups and experienced founders on everything from repositioning to campaign production, brand strategy, marketing strategy, events, advertising, and community partnerships, Claire’s usually been the one finding what makes a business original and helping it hold onto it.
Why Does Claire Enjoy This Work?
“I’ve never wanted to work at the size where you stop knowing why a business exists. The best work I’ve done has been with people two or three years into something that’s already showing signs of being genuinely theirs, not a formula borrowed from somewhere bigger. My job is making sure that doesn’t get sanded off the first time someone tells them to look more ‘professional.’”
What Is Claire Crehan’s Background in Fashion and Retail?
Before joining Blackline, Claire started on the shop floor in fashion and lifestyle retail, then moved into marketing and advertising, a combination that gave her both sides of the equation: what it takes to win a customer’s attention and what it takes to keep earning it once they’re through the door. She ran the fashion and lifestyle blog whowhatclaire.com years before “influencer” was a word anyone used, and has worked on campaigns and collaborations with Thomas Sabo, Marks & Spencer, Hilton Hotels, Nintendo, HelloFresh and ASOS.
What Is Claire Crehan’s Own Small Business?
Claire also runs her own art print business, whowhatclaireart.com, designing and selling her work herself, including at markets and fairs across the region. It means her advice to founders isn’t theoretical. She knows what a product actually costs to make, price and sell, because she’s doing all three herself, most weekends, alongside everything else.
What Do Clients Say About Claire Crehan?
“Claire didn’t just tell us what made us different – she made sure we couldn’t lose sight of it once we were three campaigns deep and short on time. That’s the difference between an agency and someone who actually understands your business.”
Nigel Poad, Wheelers
“Claire has consistently demonstrated remarkable dedication and expertise. She has shown a deep understanding of our products and has been an invaluable resource. Her willingness to always be available and address any concerns, combined with her extensive knowledge, has made working with her an enjoyable experience.”
Amina Aden, MelaVie
Andy Bailey
Who Is Andy Bailey?
Andy Bailey is the founder of Blackline and co-host of the Blackline Originals podcast. His career spans senior roles across retail, real estate, consumer marketing, lifestyle brands and technology, working with businesses from ambitious early-stage founders to global enterprise leaders. Blackline Originals is where that experience is put to direct use, combining the strategic thinking of a consultancy with the creative output of an agency, to enable leaders and businesses grow together.
Why Does Andy Enjoy This Work?
“Growth usually asks a business to sound like everyone else who’s grown before them. I’m more interested in the businesses that refuse that trade, where the thing that made them work in the first place is exactly what should still be driving decisions once they’ve got a team, a turnover and something to lose. That’s the work I find most worth doing.”
What Is Andy Bailey’s Approach to Coaching and Consultancy?
Alongside Blackline, Andy runs Daylight, his coaching, mentoring and consultancy practice for growth-minded founders and leaders. He holds an ILM Level 7 qualification in Coaching and Mentoring, is a Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and has an MBA from the Open University. That dual vantage point, of building brands at Blackline and developing the people running them at Daylight, is why his advice tends to land on both the commercial decision and the person having to make it, rather than one or the other.
What Do Clients Say About Andy Bailey?
“Working with Andy was a turning point. His coaching helped me shift from constantly reacting to confidently leading. He brought clarity, challenged my thinking, and gave me the space to grow into a more strategic version of myself. My business and mindset are both stronger because of him, as are my retail performances.”
Leader in Consumer Lifestyle Retail
“Andy has a rare ability to combine strategic depth with emotional intelligence. In a sector driven by data and trends, he helped me reconnect with vision and purpose. His mentoring sharpened how I lead, not just the business, but the people in it. He asks the questions you didn’t know you needed to answer.”
Senior Leader in Commercial Insights
Want to Hear More from Claire and Andy?
New episodes of the Blackline Originals podcast land from September to November across web, Spotify, LinkedIn and Instagram.
So, if you’re building something original and want it stress-tested by people who’ve actually built things themselves, contacting them here is a great place to start.
Claire.crehan@blacklinecreative.co.uk
Andy.bailey@blacklinecreative.co.uk
